Edinburgh Festival Theatre

The Edinburgh Festival Theatre stands on Nicolson Street in the heart of Edinburgh. It occupies the city’s longest continuous theatre site, where performances have taken place since 1830. Originally built as the Empire Palace Theatre in 1892, it was designed by Frank Matcham, a leading theatre architect of the time. The building once seated 3,000 people across four levels, decorated with lavish plasterwork featuring elephants, nymphs and cherubs. After a devastating fire in 1911, it reopened within months under a new design by Thatcham. The theatre has hosted many notable performers, including Laurel and Hardy, Fats Waller and Margot Fonteyn. The theatre remains one of the main venues for the Edinburgh International Festival. It serves as the home for Scottish Opera and Scottish Ballet, presenting large-scale productions throughout the year. The building has undergone several transformations, including a major rebuild in 1928 and a full renovation in 1994. The current design blends art nouveau, beaux arts and neo-classical styles while ensuring excellent acoustics. Under the leadership of figures like Stephen Barry and Duncan Hendry, it has welcomed West End hits such as *War Horse* and *Hamilton*. Inside, visitors find a grand auditorium with restored 1928 features and modern comforts. The glass-fronted entrance, added in 1994, welcomes guests with a striking contemporary look. The theatre’s programme includes opera, ballet, musicals and touring shows, appealing to a wide audience. Some claim the building is haunted by the spirit of illusionist The Great Lafayette, who died in the 1911 fire. Surrounded by Edinburgh’s cultural quarter, it remains a vital part of the city’s artistic life.